UConn Announces 2019 Commencement Speakers

STORRS, CT — The University of Connecticut has announced its lineup of 2019 commencement speakers and it ranges from a lawyer who has been before the Supreme Court to a lawmaker to an actor to an award winning composer to business leaders.

Graduation ceremonies are slated for later this month.

Here is the list of speakers and honorary degree recipients.

• College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, May 11, 6 p.m., Gampel Pavilion. Speaker: Indrajeet Chaubey, dean of CAHNR.
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, May 12, 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., Gampel Pavilion. Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient: William Julius Wilson, Harvard University professor.
• Graduate SchoolMaster’s Ceremony, May 11, 1:30 p.m., Gampel Pavilion. Honorary Degree Recipient: Joseph Schwantner, Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer.
• Graduate SchoolDoctoral Ceremony, May 13, 6 p.m., Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. Speaker: Sandra Chafouleas, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor.
• Neag School of Education, May 12, 9 a.m., Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. Speaker: Karissa Niehoff ’10 (ED), executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations.
• School of Business, May 12, 9 a.m., Gampel Pavilion. Speaker: John R. Fodor ’85 (CLAS), investor and entrepreneur.
• School of Engineering, May 11, 9 a.m., Gampel Pavilion. Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient: Robert F. Leduc, Pratt & Whitney president.
• School of Fine Arts, May 11, 5 p.m., Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient: Richard Lublin, television and film actor.
• School of Law, May 19, 10:30 a.m., Commencement Tent. Speaker: Former U.S. Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr.
• Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine, May 13, 1 p.m., Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. Speaker: David C. Page, director and president of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research.
• School of Nursing, May 11, 9 a.m., Jorgensen Center for the Performing ArtsSpeakers:Renae Martin ’95 (NUR), recipient of the Josephine A. Dolan Distinguished Service Award. Judith Hahn ’14 (NUR), recipient of the Carolyn Ladd Widmer Outstanding Alumni Award for Leadership in Nursing.
• School of Pharmacy Graduate Ceremony, Saturday, May 11, 9 a.m., Rome Ballroom. Speaker: Rick Carbray ’75 (PHR), operator of two Connecticut pharmacies.
• School of Pharmacy Undergraduate Ceremony, May 11, 4 p.m., Rome BallroomSpeaker: Congressman Joe Courtney ’78 (LAW).
• School of Social Work Recognition Ceremony, May 8, 6:30 p.m., the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. Speaker: Vannessa Dorantes, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.

For full biographies of the commencement speakers, click here.